A Tragic Victory

The Hunley failed miserably from the beginning. The first time she was at sea she killed most other men and sank. It was a horrible end, and most of her crew were so swollen they had to be cut up. This incident did not discourage Hunley from giving her another chance, and after she was hauled up he and his namesake went off to sea with a brand new crew. This time the ship spared nobody, and sailors called her “…a murdering machine.” Nevertheless, her second and last captain George Dixon gave her one last chance to prove herself. And so she did, and with that one feat she disappeared -but she was never forgotten.

Tying Loose Ends

For the Hunley there is no perfect ending in sight but some things seem to be coming full circle. Though the mystery of how the Hunley disappeared and how the men aboard the ship perished seems to be far from solved, the Hunley’s crew has gotten the burial they deserved and the ship is now being openly displayed. Hopefully this chapter of American history will soon get the ending it deserves. In the meantime everything is being done to honor the Hunley, her sailors and their contribution to American history.